The view from atop the Key West lighthouse

Nope, this one was just me and my mom, as my most gracious hosts at Ocean Key and generous bosses here at VIE allowed me to bring her along for the trip. It was great to spend some time exploring the island with her, relaxing at the pool at the resort (a great spot for watching the sunset!), and eating––a lot! We both agreed we wouldn’t need to eat for a week after so many delicious meals, especially the broiled snapper from Hot Tin Roof at Ocean Key and some of the best chicken nachos and margaritas I’ve ever had at Amigos Tortilla Bar, a little taco bar just off of Duval Street.

Right around the corner from Amigos, in a cobbled shopping plaza that Courtney, the tour guide on our City View Trolley Tour, pointed out, is a little hand painted black-and-white sign that says KINO SANDALS. I had never heard of them before, but a few people on the trolley nodded and murmured their agreement when Courtney said “You have to check these shoes out. They last forever and you’ll want to wear them every day, and they run about $14 to $22 a pair.”

After taking the trolley around the island, hopping off a couple of times to stop by the free Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center museum, which was pretty cool, and later  having lunch at Conch Republic Seafood Company by the harbor and picking out some awesome ikat printed bags at a shop called Yours & Mayan, we ventured back to find these amazing sandals.

The KINO factory is right there in that little building at 107 Fitzpatrick Street. The original factory, which was on Whitehead Street, was founded by Roberto “Kino” Lopez, who brought his skills with him from Cuba (just 90 miles south of Key West), and the factory is currently being run by the third generation of his family with the fourth being groomed to take over the tradition. They use natural leather and natural rubber soles in all their designs, which are original to KINO. They have styles for men, women, and children, in a variety of colors.

When you walk into the factory, it’s reminiscent of being in an old-world market. There was a crowd when we came in, all surrounding the long U-shaped counter which spans the room. On shelves behind it are boxes and crates full of sandals, categorized by a system the KINO folks have down to a T. To me, it just looked like a jumble of boxes filled with jumbles of shoes. Browse and try on the sample pairs that are lying on the counter, but once you push your way to the front you’d better know what you want or you might get lost in the hustle. Behind some of the shelves you can also glimpse members of the Kino family hard at work creating new sandals!

Mom and I both got a pair, $13 each, and I bought some for an early Father’s Day gift for my dad as well. Courtney didn’t lie. My KINOs are super comfortable and are already molding to my feet after wearing them three days in a row. Living by the beach, these are probably going to be my new go-to shoes to throw on with practically every outfit. You can order them online as well, and I’ll likely be getting another pair or two at some point. One word of caution: sizes run a little small and they don’t do half sizes, so consider ordering a size up. I normally wear  6.5 and the 7 fits me perfectly.

Visit kinosandals.com for ordering information, and to see what other products they have, including handbags, hair barettes, and a Conch Cookbook! You can also check them out on Facebook.

{Images via KINOSandals.com and Facebook.com/KINO-SANDALS}

The Gloria Awards are named after Gloria Steinem, who founded Ms. magazine in 1972—the first magazine in US history to be created, owned, and operated by women. One year later, Gloria and Marlo Thomas founded the Ms. Foundation to direct funds to women-led grassroots charities. Fifteen years later, in 1987, Gloria sought to publicly recognize these women of vision, and at the insistence of friends, an award was named in her honor. Now, every year the Ms. Foundation honors women across the globe who are making a difference for other women.

Jane Comer Receives Woman of Vision and Action Award in 2010

This year’s award ceremony was at New York City’s most sophisticated and elegant celebration venue, Cipriani 42nd Street, located in the heart of Manhattan. The magnificent hall was filled with the most powerful women you could possibly hope to know—women like Gloria Steinem, Diane von Furstenberg, Bonnie Raitt, Olympia Dukakis, and Jane Comer.

Ms. Foundation leaders Marie C. Wilson and Gloria Steinem

All of the women were radiant, but the Gloria Awards ceremony is not about fashion, celebrities, pictures, or paparazzi. These women were gathered for another, more important reason: to help make a difference in the lives of other women. Each of them had charted a new course for their female comrades, a path that Gloria Steinem had blazed before them. That night, the “Glorias” of the world would be recognized.

Among those being honored and recognized were:

• Saru Jayaraman, the heroic and impassioned speaker who cofounded the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, an organization that began as support for victims of 9/11 and continues on to improve wages and working conditions for the nation’s low-wage restaurant workforce;
• Diane von Furstenberg, the free-spirited fashion designer known for her iconic wrap dress and for being the inspiration of an Andy Warhol portrait. Born eighteen months after her mother was freed from Auschwitz, Diane married a prince and became royalty, yet she has dedicated her life to helping make other women strong. She now searches the globe for the next generation of strong women leaders;
• Sunny Clifford, the young Lakota woman from Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota who works tirelessly toward bettering the lives of Native American woman by fighting for their reproductive rights;
• Jane Comer, women’s rights activist, philanthropist, and founder of GirlSpring, a foundation focused on helping to empower girls and young women.

And there were the women at Jane’s table: Lisa Burwell, founder and publisher of VIE magazine; Evette Rios, correspondent for The Chew on ABC; Sara Bengur, interior designer; and Tina Teel, art appraiser. All of us were there to, in our own way, support each other and to draw inspiration from the “Glorias.”

Watch for more about these and other heroic women in the 2013 September/October issue of VIE. You can also view more photos in VIE’s Facebook photo album here!

Diane von Furstenberg with Lisa Burwell

Designer Tucker Robbins with Evette Rios from ABC's The Chew

Actor Ben Vereen with Jane Comer of GirlSpring

Diane von Furstenberg with Anne Hunter

“Our lives are different tomorrow because of what we are doing here today.”

—Gloria Steinem

{Photography by Gerald Burwell}

Join Girls Night Out on 30A Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 6:30 pm at Pandora’s of Grayton Beach with live entertainment by Hotel Oscar and DJ EXQ, heavy hors d’oeuvres, mixology stations with Ketel One Vodka and The Honey Hutch, retail vendors, a silent auction, a $1,000 shopping spree to Perspicacity in Seaside, tons of giveaways and more.

TICKETS:
Tickets are $30 each and space is limited to only 300 women. Tickets can be purchased at www.proffittprgno.ticketbud.com/gno-does-30a.

WINNER!
The first 200 ladies to purchase a ticket will be entered to win the GNO Glam VIP Package. The winner of this package and five of her friends will be picked up by a D’Liuxe limousine filled with Ketel One cocktails, taken to Sephora for a glamorous makeover prior to the event, chauffeured to Pandora’s for a true VIP entrance to the party and provided a safe ride home.

DETAILS
For more details about the event email gno@proffittpr.com, visit Proffitt PR’s Facebook page to RSVP on the event page, get sneak peeks and updated information of event developments.

Billy showed up at 1:00 p.m. sharp. I still had on my Sunday church dress. My mother had made it, just like she made most all of my clothes back then. I watched Billy warming up in the backyard while I finished my chicken-fried steak and wondered if my parents knew what was about to go down. Their daughter was about to beat up Billy the Bully. I cleared my plate, wiped my mouth, snuck outside and threw the first punch.

Billy was in it to win it. He was swinging back in under ten seconds and in under ten minutes, I had to leave with my dad for the opera. There was no time. If Billy won this fight, he would rule third grade recess. I could not let this happen. “Float like a butterfly.” The words rolled in like a libretto and I caught them. I tore down the alley and stopped in front of Mrs. McKay’s garage door window, where I let Billy the Bully beat me up until it was opera time.

Mrs. McKay never failed to paparazzi the neighborhood and splash the headlines up and down our street. In the end, my mom got an apology note with a flower centerpiece, Billy got grounded for six weeks, and I got to see Die Fledermaus. My father always held season tickets to the Dallas Opera and from the time I can remember, he would drag me along. Weary from my battle with Billy, I slept through Strauss that day, but dad would wake me at intermission to translate the story.

Ever since falling in love with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, I’ve wanted to see Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Rumor has it that Tolkien drew inspiration from Wagner. So did George Lucas. “The Ride of the Valkyries” from Star Wars is one of my all time favorite songs. So, when I discovered that Des Ring des Nibelungen was on at the Met last week, I had to go. It is a sixteen-hour opera, which takes place over four nights. It changed my life.

Tickets for each opera range from $300 to $2,000. This was not in the budget, so I showed up at the box office early and landed standing-room only tickets in the last row of the theatre. I stood the entire time. When my legs would grow weary, I would kick off my heels and do a tree pose––nothing like yoga with Wagner at the Met. An added bonus to this version of the Des Ring des Nibelungen was Robert Le Page, the director who conceived the brilliant idea of eliminating every prop on stage and replacing it with digital images projected onto a 45-ton set of 24 rotating planks, called “The Machine.” Imagine an operatic performance atop Calatrava’s Wave sculpture at SMU. The Ring Cycle was architecture as installation art, fused with mythological storytelling, in true digital graffiti form. I would stand for it again and again. Beautiful, brilliant, breathtaking, and no Billy the Bully’s!

Robert Le Page’s “Ring Machine” – Images via NYTimes.com

After the 12th hour of standing … It was worth it!

"Alana" Ballet Flat from Banana Republic, $68.50

Consisting of a repeated “v” shape or zig-zag, this pattern became a style statement in the 70s when “mod” was taking over, and now conjures up a retro or vintage vibe. However, the pattern actually dates back to ancient times in pottery and cave carvings, and has been used more recently in military insignias and symbols.

Applicable to almost any article of clothing, this pattern can be found in limitless color combinations and sizes. It is a great play on the already effortlessly chic trend of stripes this spring and offers fashionistas an easy way to add more bold colors and prints to their ensembles. Also seen on nails appliques, iPhone cases, clutches, and more, the pattern is friendly, flirty, and fun, and works well for women of all ages.

Chevron "Leora" Dress by Kate Spade, $288

Whether you decide to go chevron crazy or simply buy a piece or two in this fun print, it’s bound to be a hit this summer!

Download a free chevron wallpaper for your desktop, iPad, cell phone, or Facebook page from Kate Spade – Click Here!

{Main photo: Chevron bikini by Victoria’s Secret, On sale! top: $17.99, bottom: $12.99}

In addition to digital artwork of 23 finalists projected onto the white walls of Alys Beach, guests will enjoy California native and aerialist Lesley Vaughn as she performs with fluidity, beauty, and power in the air. Attendees may also stand in the projection of Shantell Martin, previously featured at DG2011 and recently on Jimmy Kimmel, and become part of a larger than life installation.

Foodie Dietrich’s will offer gourmet sandwiches while Sweet Henrietta’s will cater to the sweet tooth. Late night snacks like firecracker chicken and braised short rib gravy over crispy fries will be offered at Caliza Pool.

The Cathead Lounge will be the perfect spot for cocktails and an electric view of the town from the top of Lake Marilyn on the north end of Alys Beach.

Central Park will be the hub of more fun in the form of Lite Brite Jumbo, an exhibit that will incite childhood nostalgia, and Cosmo Pod, a projection augmented sculpture in the form of a large dodecahedron constructed from reclaimed molded packaging foam on a wood structure. A digital projection from the interior illuminates and animates the form. Both installations debuted at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Other wow factors will be nestled along the path to the architecturally-acclaimed Caliza Pool where guests will dance Saturday night away to the dynamic music mixing by DJ Wizz Kid with special guests John and Katie Gaiser, VJs who mix and manipulate video live and on the spot.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Friday night’s Gallery Stroll will allow guests to interact with the artists in a more intimate salon-style setting with the Caliza Pool offering cocktails at a cash bar in a relaxed atmosphere. The festivities will continue on Saturday night with VIE Magazine’s Meet me at the Red Carpet at Fonville Press from 6:00-8:30pm, including guest appearance by artist Sarah Ashley Longshore; then the festival gates open and the evening ends with the highly anticipated party at Caliza Pool.

TICKETS:

DG2013 festival tickets are now available at digitalgraffiti.com and at Fonville Press in Alys Beach while quantities last. Adult tickets are $50 for Friday night and include an official t-shirt; $100 for Saturday night which includes an official Digital Graffiti t-shirt and Tervis tumbler. Children’s tickets (12 and under) may be purchased at $20 for Friday night only, and include a t-shirt. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.

WHERE TO STAY:

Interested guests should visit alysbeach.com to book a courtyard home rental on site, or call 1-866-732-9276. Alys Beach offers gorgeous beach homes for vacation rentals so guests can experience the luxurious side of small-town beachside living on a short-term basis. Vacation rentals range from three to five bedrooms and from around 2,000 to 3,000 square feet.

Or guests may book their rental for Digital Graffiti directly with official lodging partner Sandcastle Escapes and receive $10 off their Friday night event ticket and $20 off Saturday night ticket. Offer limited to two discounted tickets per room reservation and by calling 1-866-626-4208 or visiting sandcastleescapes.com to make reservations.

CLAUDIA LOBÃO

Trunk Show and Personal Appearance at

Sarah Carolyn on Hwy. 98 in Miramar Beach, FL

May 17 & 18

10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Claudia Lobão Jewelry was featured in VIE’s 2012 Holiday Issue! (See the article here on page 25.) We are excited to have her in Northwest Florida this weekend!

About Claudia:

Born and raised in Brazil, Claudia Lobão, now based in San Antonio, Texas, has been on the forefront of fashion jewelry design for several years. She was awarded the “Rising Star” Award by the Fashion Group International in 2009 and 2013 Showcase Designer of the Year by Dallas Market. Recognized by the industry as re-inventing Crochet Handmade jewelry her designs are displayed in hundreds of stores worldwide. CLAUDIA LOBÃO jewelry continues to be popular with “A” list Hollywood celebrities as well as the thousands of women worldwide who treasure and collect her unique pieces.

The next time I ran into Chris, a friend had invited me to join her at Hot & Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Alabama, one of the hottest restaurants in the south. “Oh Ayunnnne, Hot & Hot is faaaabulous, the food is deevine.” We walked through the door and there he was, Chris Hastings. OMG, no. It can’t be. This time Chris was glammed up in a chef’s coat, painted onto canvas and hanging at the entry of his restaurant. I sat down to savor one of the best meals in my life and that’s when I turned into an undercover foodie.

You can imagine my shock last week when I discovered that the now James Beard Award-winning chef would be cooking at City Grit, a cool culinary salon in Soho. Kiss my grits! How could I be so lucky? There were two things that I knew for certain: it would be Southern and it would be good. By sight and by taste, each dish was a work of art. My favorite? The poached duck egg with onions, Alabama caviar, and wild foraged herbs. It melted in my mouth and tasted like home.

City Grit is inside the old Catholic school on Prince, between Mulberry and Mott, that is home to WRK Studios, a boutique storage closet for NYC designers Josh and Jeremy. It feels like they kicked the principals out of their offices and turned the space into a found-object festival. The hostess greets you at the door and in true Southern style, walks you to your place at the table. On the way there, it’s a found-object feast for the eyes.

Fate would have it that the City Grit people seated me next to the coolest couple ever: Kee Edwards, designer and owner of Loup Charmant, and her 2125 husband. I felt really special rocking my Manolo Blahniks, but Kee smoked me out in her edgy and seductive Loup Charmant attire. When I asked her about fashion week, she said, “I love it, but I’ve done it and now it’s all about the vacation life.” That’s when I mentioned 30-A and we discovered one of our six degrees of separation. A store in WaterColor called Beachfolly, carries her line. No. Way. Is the world really this small? I found Kee’s website. I’ll take the T-Seam Cover Up and the Starboard Sundress, please.

Loup Charmant Starboard Dress

I also found these sexy ruffled bloomers at Barney’s and on the Loup Charmant blog. Want them with the antlers and the secret pink potion, plus a Chris Hastings woodcock-hawthorne feather pin. Uh, yes, Chris makes woodcock-hawthorne feather pins. I love my Southern roots.

Used in conjunction with other spring trends such as a bare midriff, gladiator chest plate, or full-figured maxi, cutouts work as an embellishment for just the right amount of fashion flair. Designs from Versace and Gucci featured bright hues and sweet pastels mixed with a cutout below the chest or as an accent at the shoulder, while Roberto Cavalli and Yves Saint Laurent used exposed skin with sheer black lace or leather for a harder edge and rock-chic look.

Versace Spring 2013 RTW, Style.com

For those who fall on the conservative side of the fashion spectrum, look for pieces with cutouts in less revealing or compromising positions. Shoulders, sleeves and keyholes can offer a daring effect without showing too much skin. If you’re feeling daring, though, opt for pieces with larger cutouts on the sides, stomach or lower back for a sultry and flirty spring look. Be sure to be conscious of pieces that are time-of-day or event specific and coordinate accordingly to avoid a fashion faux pas.

Gucci Spring 2013 RTW, Style.com

As always, less is more, so allow cutouts to serve as accessories and keep the rest to a minimum. And enjoy finding the perfect piece to add to your wardrobe to give cutouts a try!

{Main photo: Roberto Cavalli Spring 2013 RTW, Style.com}

Across Mercer Street, Prada was celebrity central, hosting the opening reception for their new Great Gatsby collection. I could see the sides of famous faces in 1920s fashion rolling up in their cars with drivers, ducking the paparazzi as they were swept inside. Across Prince Street, people were hopping in and out of the opening of an art show at The Rotary, the art gallery that sits on the second floor above Fanelli Café. Kat McCue is the gallerist. Cool Kat is cool. She is also a writer.

Great Gatsby collection debut party at Prada NYC

The show is called Mie Olise: Elapsed Intoxications. Kat had been hanging it for the last few days, and allowed me a sneak peek. I loved the work and I couldn’t wait to go inside and meet Mie. It was a long wait. Everyone wanted to meet Mie. I fetched my chance when I spotted her looking for the lavatory. The closest available water closet was downstairs at Fanelli’s so I said, “Follow me.” We were ascending the stairs to my loft when Mie said, “This building is so cool,” and I said, “So is your art.”

Mie Olise and Kat McCue at The Rotary NYC art gallery

For the past ten years, I’ve owned galleries and represented artists along Scenic Highway 30-A, the most beautiful stretch of beach in the world. Now, I live above a gallery in Soho and I write. How I got to be so lucky, I do not know, but I do know that I can’t live without art and that there is nothing better than knowing that the Rotary Gallery is right below my feet and that Cool Kat McCue is tucked up inside, curating the collections.

“I am really an architect, but I feel buildings, they are alive, living and breathing, and that is what my paintings represent.” Mie has a beautiful Danish accent. I love accents and I knew exactly what she meant. This building was built in the 1850s and it used to be a brothel. When I step inside, it feels like I’m walking into a rainforest womb. It is fertile, teeming with life, memories, ghosts of the past and future… It is ever incubating, regenerating, creating, and recreating. The walls feel porous, like they hold every word whispered, every moment made and it all folds together in such a way that I feel that I am a part of the building itself. Like it knows that I am here, floating and moving through its spaces, and it wants to dance with me and whisper things. It is a strange feeling but it is true, and I knew Mie felt it too.

Part of the Elapsed Intoxications exhibit by Mie Olise at The Rotary NYC